The King's Man VI
Title: The King's Man
Pairing: Chanhee/Byunghun
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
Disclaimer: They belong to Andy, not me.
That night as he lay in bed, Byunghun replayed the day's events in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the king as he prepared to shoot. He saw the muscles in his arms tense. He saw the concentration in his eyes. He saw the way his body stayed perfectly still as he released each arrow so as to not upset his aim.
He shook his head and rolled out of his blankets, redressed himself, and snuck out past Changhyun to go for a walk. He needed to clear his head.
He realised, as he walked, that this was the first time he was truly alone since he'd gotten here. He folded his hands behind his back, eyes straying curiously from one place to the next as the buildings cast their heavy shadows in the moonlight.
It all looked so different at night, even moreso when he wasn't looking for things to steal. It was strange to think about how recent that had been; it had been less than a month ago, and yet it seemed years separated him from it.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice reminded him that he was not better off now than he'd been back then, no matter how much he felt as if he were. He was still a slave. His shackles just weren't quite as visible as others'.
The dull thud of an arrow in a target brought Byunghun back down to earth, and he looked up to see he'd arrived at the range. There were torches lit all around, their glow illuminating the large targets at the far end, as well as the shooter at the other. The man was facing away from Byunghun as he strung another arrow onto his bow, and the boy bit his lip as he stopped.
The man's shoulders and back were exposed, his top hanging loose around his waist. Even from a distance, Byunghun could see a jagged red scar across his shoulder, and he found himself staring at it and wondering how it had happened. It stretched over his muscles as he held up the bow and pulled back on the string. The arrow landed with a thud in the center of the target.
When Minsoo turned and looked at him, Byunghun froze. He felt a bright blush rush his cheeks, and he was just thinking how glad he was for the darkness when Minsoo started laughing.
"Trying to escape?" he called quietly, setting his bow down as he turned and beckoned to him. Byunghun stared at his feet and shuffled closer. "Surely you're aware we're to stop you by any means necessary if you attempt to run."
"I wasn't running," Byunghun mumbled, his cheeks still burning. Minsoo leaned forward a little to peer up into the boy's face, grinning. "I wasn't, I promise."
Minsoo ruffled the boy's hair before straightening up and redressing himself. Byunghun kept his eyes averted as he did so.
"I wasn't being serious. I don't think you would run away, even without that threat." Minsoo laughed again, softly. "You can look at me, Byunghun. I am not the king."
Byunghun licked his lips and looked up at Minsoo. The man was staring at him intently; Byunghun flinched when he raised his hand, but Minsoo merely brushed his fingers through the boy's hair, fixing the mess he'd made of it moments before. Byunghun stood very still.
"You're a strange guy, you know?" Minsoo smoothed Byunghun's hair down around the curve of his cheek. "Your features are so pretty. I keep wanting to treat you as a woman because you look so delicate."
Byunghun took a step back as his ears burned. "I'm a man... and I am not delicate."
Minsoo seemed amused at his reaction. His hand dropped slowly and he bit his lip to try and hide a grin.
"You're an archer."
Byunghun blinked in surprise. "How do you know that?"
"I wasn't sure. However... the way you watched the king without faltering, and the expression you wore..." He stepped back to the table and picked up his bow, holding it out to Byunghun. "Please."
Byunghun shook his head and folded his hands behind his back again. He hadn't held a bow in a very long time, and had never held such a beautiful one... it had obviously taken somebody a long time and a lot of hard work to make that bow, and Byunghun wouldn't be the one to possibly break it.
"I don't shoot anymore. I haven't in a very long time." Minsoo held the bow out a moment longer, and Byunghun shook his head once more before he finally lowered it. "I'm not sure I truly remember how, to be honest. It's among the memories I've attempted to forget."
The guard looked at him curiously. Byunghun looked away, and Minsoo quietly turned and set the bow down again.
"Stories for another night, perhaps."
The sound of footsteps broke the boys' concentration on each other, and Byunghun looked over his shoulder to see Jonghyun running toward them. Changhyun trailed behind him, rubbing his eyes sleepily as he tried to keep up, but Jonghyun's legs were much longer and he was obviously more awake. He reached Minsoo and Byunghun first, and he latched onto Byunghun immediately. Byunghun squirmed in the boy's arms as he squeezed his waist.
"I woke and you were gone," Jonghyun whispered, nuzzling his face into Byunghun's shoulder. "I was afraid you were running."
Minsoo had gone still, his posture rigid. Byunghun bit his lip and pushed at Jonghyun's arms again, embarrassed by the close contact in front of the guard. Changhyun, having finally caught up, tugged on Jonghyun's sleeve and blinked up at him sleepily.
"You'll suffocate him if you squeeze him like that..." Jonghyun's grip loosened around Byunghun, but he didn't completely let him go. Changhyun looked at the guard and bowed his head. "Thank you for watching over Byunghun for me, sir."
Jonghyun finally looked up from Byunghun, who still couldn't manage to squirm free as he was smaller and not as strong as him, and set his attention on Minsoo. The expression on his face changed slightly, his cheeks paling and his eyes widening, and he immediately let go of Byunghun and stepped away from him. Minsoo still had his back to them all, his hands busying themselves with the leather wrist guard laid on the table.
"Minsoo hyung," Jonghyun whispered, taking a step or two closer to the guard. Minsoo turned his head sharply, his teeth gritted, and Jonghyun stalled. "How have you-"
"I need to return to the king's quarters," Minsoo interrupted, picking up his things and turning toward them. Jonghyun looked at him, eyes pleading, but Minsoo merely side-stepped him, nodded to Changhyun, and looked at Byunghun. "I shall see you soon, I'm sure."
Without so much as glancing at Jonghyun, he walked away, disappearing into the shadows without another word. Byunghun watched him go, confused. He reached out to touch Jonghyun's arm, frowning.
"What was that all about?"
Jonghyun glanced at him, giving him a small, wistful smile, and shrugged.
"Let's go back. I'm tired."
~ ~ ~
The next day, Jonghyun was unusually quiet. He and Byunghun shared lunch in their room as they usually did, and he said not a word throughout most of it. His silence grated at Byunghun, piling on his curiosity until he could no longer stand it.
Now he knew why Jonghyun was always asking him questions he didn't want to answer.
"Jonghyun?" Byunghun tapped his lips with his chopsticks. "What happened last night between you and Minsoo?"
The boy said nothing at first, merely went on poking aimlessly at his food. Byunghun stared pointedly until Jonghyun looked up, then nodded expectantly.
"It was nothing. He just doesn't enjoy my presence here." Jonghyun shrugged. "He doesn't speak to me."
"But... why?" From what Byunghun had seen of him, Minsoo seemed like a nice man. Sweet and gentle. Though... maybe that was just because he perceived Byunghun as a woman.
"Because he hates me now."
The statement made Byunghun pause. How... who could hate Jonghyun? He was a little overbearing, yes, and he treated Byunghun as if he were a doll, dressing and painting on him, but he made up for all of that easily. He watched Jonghyun's expression carefully as the boy looked everywhere but at him.
"Please don't ask about him again."
Byunghun just nodded, not fully understanding, and both men quietly went back to their lunch.
~ ~ ~
That night, as Chanhee read through reports given to him by his many officials and ministers, Minsoo dozed against the wall just inside the door. Every so often, Chanhee would look up from his papers and smile at the sight of the sleeping guard; his eyes would close, his head would droop forward, and he would fall into sleep for a few minutes before he jerked awake. The king found the entire process rather comical.
"Minsoo," he called finally, setting his papers down as the man jolted awake again. The guard looked at him with tired eyes. "Were you able to find out what I wanted to know?"
Minsoo rubbed his face as he nodded and slid his hand into his top, pulling out a scrap of paper.
"It took a little digging, but several names turned up..." he stood and held the paper out to the king, bowing his head and sinking to his knees on the other side of the desk as the man took it. "Your new man hasn't experienced many difficulties. However, the other..."
Chanhee looked up at him.
"The other? Jonghyun?"
Minsoo nodded, his expression darkening. "Several of the servants have harassed him in the past. It seems he's taken steps to avoid it recently, but there are still whispers."
"I see." Chanhee re-read the names listed on the page. "Thank you, Minsoo. I will take care of it. I greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter." He paused and looked at his guard. "You look weary. Did you not rest last night?"
Minsoo smiled and shook his head. "I slept very little. It's catching up with me now, but there's no need for concern, sir."
Chanhee licked his lips. It was obvious he was wondering what had kept Minsoo up, but he knew his guard well enough. He wasn't one to get in trouble or cause worry.
But he was a man who pushed himself beyond his limits for his king.
"You may go. Rest, if not for your sake then for mine." Chanhee waved a hand, dismissing him. The guard smiled tiredly and nodded as he stood. When he bowed, he wobbled slightly, and the king bit back a laugh. "Goodnight, Minsoo. Sleep well."
He watched as the guard left, and when the door had closed, he too stood and moved toward his bed. As he undressed, he stared at his desk, at the paper with the names listed on it. His stomach gave an unpleasant lurch, and he sighed before turning back to his bed and sinking into his blankets.
Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day.
Pairing: Chanhee/Byunghun
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
Disclaimer: They belong to Andy, not me.
That night as he lay in bed, Byunghun replayed the day's events in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the king as he prepared to shoot. He saw the muscles in his arms tense. He saw the concentration in his eyes. He saw the way his body stayed perfectly still as he released each arrow so as to not upset his aim.
He shook his head and rolled out of his blankets, redressed himself, and snuck out past Changhyun to go for a walk. He needed to clear his head.
He realised, as he walked, that this was the first time he was truly alone since he'd gotten here. He folded his hands behind his back, eyes straying curiously from one place to the next as the buildings cast their heavy shadows in the moonlight.
It all looked so different at night, even moreso when he wasn't looking for things to steal. It was strange to think about how recent that had been; it had been less than a month ago, and yet it seemed years separated him from it.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice reminded him that he was not better off now than he'd been back then, no matter how much he felt as if he were. He was still a slave. His shackles just weren't quite as visible as others'.
The dull thud of an arrow in a target brought Byunghun back down to earth, and he looked up to see he'd arrived at the range. There were torches lit all around, their glow illuminating the large targets at the far end, as well as the shooter at the other. The man was facing away from Byunghun as he strung another arrow onto his bow, and the boy bit his lip as he stopped.
The man's shoulders and back were exposed, his top hanging loose around his waist. Even from a distance, Byunghun could see a jagged red scar across his shoulder, and he found himself staring at it and wondering how it had happened. It stretched over his muscles as he held up the bow and pulled back on the string. The arrow landed with a thud in the center of the target.
When Minsoo turned and looked at him, Byunghun froze. He felt a bright blush rush his cheeks, and he was just thinking how glad he was for the darkness when Minsoo started laughing.
"Trying to escape?" he called quietly, setting his bow down as he turned and beckoned to him. Byunghun stared at his feet and shuffled closer. "Surely you're aware we're to stop you by any means necessary if you attempt to run."
"I wasn't running," Byunghun mumbled, his cheeks still burning. Minsoo leaned forward a little to peer up into the boy's face, grinning. "I wasn't, I promise."
Minsoo ruffled the boy's hair before straightening up and redressing himself. Byunghun kept his eyes averted as he did so.
"I wasn't being serious. I don't think you would run away, even without that threat." Minsoo laughed again, softly. "You can look at me, Byunghun. I am not the king."
Byunghun licked his lips and looked up at Minsoo. The man was staring at him intently; Byunghun flinched when he raised his hand, but Minsoo merely brushed his fingers through the boy's hair, fixing the mess he'd made of it moments before. Byunghun stood very still.
"You're a strange guy, you know?" Minsoo smoothed Byunghun's hair down around the curve of his cheek. "Your features are so pretty. I keep wanting to treat you as a woman because you look so delicate."
Byunghun took a step back as his ears burned. "I'm a man... and I am not delicate."
Minsoo seemed amused at his reaction. His hand dropped slowly and he bit his lip to try and hide a grin.
"You're an archer."
Byunghun blinked in surprise. "How do you know that?"
"I wasn't sure. However... the way you watched the king without faltering, and the expression you wore..." He stepped back to the table and picked up his bow, holding it out to Byunghun. "Please."
Byunghun shook his head and folded his hands behind his back again. He hadn't held a bow in a very long time, and had never held such a beautiful one... it had obviously taken somebody a long time and a lot of hard work to make that bow, and Byunghun wouldn't be the one to possibly break it.
"I don't shoot anymore. I haven't in a very long time." Minsoo held the bow out a moment longer, and Byunghun shook his head once more before he finally lowered it. "I'm not sure I truly remember how, to be honest. It's among the memories I've attempted to forget."
The guard looked at him curiously. Byunghun looked away, and Minsoo quietly turned and set the bow down again.
"Stories for another night, perhaps."
The sound of footsteps broke the boys' concentration on each other, and Byunghun looked over his shoulder to see Jonghyun running toward them. Changhyun trailed behind him, rubbing his eyes sleepily as he tried to keep up, but Jonghyun's legs were much longer and he was obviously more awake. He reached Minsoo and Byunghun first, and he latched onto Byunghun immediately. Byunghun squirmed in the boy's arms as he squeezed his waist.
"I woke and you were gone," Jonghyun whispered, nuzzling his face into Byunghun's shoulder. "I was afraid you were running."
Minsoo had gone still, his posture rigid. Byunghun bit his lip and pushed at Jonghyun's arms again, embarrassed by the close contact in front of the guard. Changhyun, having finally caught up, tugged on Jonghyun's sleeve and blinked up at him sleepily.
"You'll suffocate him if you squeeze him like that..." Jonghyun's grip loosened around Byunghun, but he didn't completely let him go. Changhyun looked at the guard and bowed his head. "Thank you for watching over Byunghun for me, sir."
Jonghyun finally looked up from Byunghun, who still couldn't manage to squirm free as he was smaller and not as strong as him, and set his attention on Minsoo. The expression on his face changed slightly, his cheeks paling and his eyes widening, and he immediately let go of Byunghun and stepped away from him. Minsoo still had his back to them all, his hands busying themselves with the leather wrist guard laid on the table.
"Minsoo hyung," Jonghyun whispered, taking a step or two closer to the guard. Minsoo turned his head sharply, his teeth gritted, and Jonghyun stalled. "How have you-"
"I need to return to the king's quarters," Minsoo interrupted, picking up his things and turning toward them. Jonghyun looked at him, eyes pleading, but Minsoo merely side-stepped him, nodded to Changhyun, and looked at Byunghun. "I shall see you soon, I'm sure."
Without so much as glancing at Jonghyun, he walked away, disappearing into the shadows without another word. Byunghun watched him go, confused. He reached out to touch Jonghyun's arm, frowning.
"What was that all about?"
Jonghyun glanced at him, giving him a small, wistful smile, and shrugged.
"Let's go back. I'm tired."
~ ~ ~
The next day, Jonghyun was unusually quiet. He and Byunghun shared lunch in their room as they usually did, and he said not a word throughout most of it. His silence grated at Byunghun, piling on his curiosity until he could no longer stand it.
Now he knew why Jonghyun was always asking him questions he didn't want to answer.
"Jonghyun?" Byunghun tapped his lips with his chopsticks. "What happened last night between you and Minsoo?"
The boy said nothing at first, merely went on poking aimlessly at his food. Byunghun stared pointedly until Jonghyun looked up, then nodded expectantly.
"It was nothing. He just doesn't enjoy my presence here." Jonghyun shrugged. "He doesn't speak to me."
"But... why?" From what Byunghun had seen of him, Minsoo seemed like a nice man. Sweet and gentle. Though... maybe that was just because he perceived Byunghun as a woman.
"Because he hates me now."
The statement made Byunghun pause. How... who could hate Jonghyun? He was a little overbearing, yes, and he treated Byunghun as if he were a doll, dressing and painting on him, but he made up for all of that easily. He watched Jonghyun's expression carefully as the boy looked everywhere but at him.
"Please don't ask about him again."
Byunghun just nodded, not fully understanding, and both men quietly went back to their lunch.
~ ~ ~
That night, as Chanhee read through reports given to him by his many officials and ministers, Minsoo dozed against the wall just inside the door. Every so often, Chanhee would look up from his papers and smile at the sight of the sleeping guard; his eyes would close, his head would droop forward, and he would fall into sleep for a few minutes before he jerked awake. The king found the entire process rather comical.
"Minsoo," he called finally, setting his papers down as the man jolted awake again. The guard looked at him with tired eyes. "Were you able to find out what I wanted to know?"
Minsoo rubbed his face as he nodded and slid his hand into his top, pulling out a scrap of paper.
"It took a little digging, but several names turned up..." he stood and held the paper out to the king, bowing his head and sinking to his knees on the other side of the desk as the man took it. "Your new man hasn't experienced many difficulties. However, the other..."
Chanhee looked up at him.
"The other? Jonghyun?"
Minsoo nodded, his expression darkening. "Several of the servants have harassed him in the past. It seems he's taken steps to avoid it recently, but there are still whispers."
"I see." Chanhee re-read the names listed on the page. "Thank you, Minsoo. I will take care of it. I greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter." He paused and looked at his guard. "You look weary. Did you not rest last night?"
Minsoo smiled and shook his head. "I slept very little. It's catching up with me now, but there's no need for concern, sir."
Chanhee licked his lips. It was obvious he was wondering what had kept Minsoo up, but he knew his guard well enough. He wasn't one to get in trouble or cause worry.
But he was a man who pushed himself beyond his limits for his king.
"You may go. Rest, if not for your sake then for mine." Chanhee waved a hand, dismissing him. The guard smiled tiredly and nodded as he stood. When he bowed, he wobbled slightly, and the king bit back a laugh. "Goodnight, Minsoo. Sleep well."
He watched as the guard left, and when the door had closed, he too stood and moved toward his bed. As he undressed, he stared at his desk, at the paper with the names listed on it. His stomach gave an unpleasant lurch, and he sighed before turning back to his bed and sinking into his blankets.
Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day.